President Donald Trump has made a surprising decision regarding the next U.S. surgeon general by choosing wellness influencer Dr. Casey Means over his initial pick, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat. Trump announced this change just a day before Nesheiwat’s Senate confirmation hearing. In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Dr. Means’ credentials as a functional medicine physician and highlighted her close ties to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., emphasizing their shared goal of addressing the Chronic Disease Epidemic and promoting better health for all Americans under the “Make America Healthy Again” slogan.
Meanwhile, Nesheiwat, who is related to former national security adviser Michael Waltz, will be taking on a different role within the Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Means is also connected to Kennedy through her sibling, Calley Means, who serves as an advisor to him. This unexpected shift in the surgeon general nomination underscores Trump’s commitment to prioritizing individuals with strong health and wellness backgrounds, as well as his focus on collaborative efforts to improve public health outcomes. The decision reflects a strategic alignment with key figures in the health sector and signals a shift in leadership towards a more holistic and proactive approach to healthcare in the United States.